The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-28
BOARD OF TRADE.

At the meeting Of the Board Of Trade
Monday morning considerable business
was transacted.
Thequestion of issuing county bonds
for tile completion of the court house
came up, and the following resolution
being introduced, it was unanimously
adopted:
| Resdued, That il is the sense of this
board of trade that 1t will be economy
for the taxpayers of this county To have
the court house speedily finished, which
cannot be done by direct taxation, and
that 1t lis for the best interest of the
county that it be completed by the sale
OF bonds, therefore that our senator or
representatives be requested to secure
at the present session of the legislature
authority to the county commissioners
10 issue sufficient county bonds to COM
plete the same. and that our county COM
missioners be requested by this board of
trade To ask our senator and representa-
tives to secure such legislation.
resolution was also passed request
ing our senator and representatives to
use all honorable endeavors to secure
the passage of a bill which will grant an
annual appropriation of 5000 for the
benefit of the Southern Minnesota Live
Stock and Fair Association, placing il
upon the same basis in point of State aid
as the Rochester fair. There is no reason
why the legislature will not grant this
very reasonable request, while there is
every reason why the people of tins sec
ton are entitled to the benefits prayed
for.
President Noe, who, be il said to his
credit, has made one of the most faithful
and impartial presiding officers the
Board ever had, delivered some very in
teresting remarks, which we give below,
as follows:
GENTLEMEN:-You have done me the
honor of re-electing me the President OF
your body. For another year we are to-
gether, to consider wisely the best inter-
ests of our city, and the country tribu-
tary to the same, and to foster, and aid
in every way, all enterprises, public and
private, which will help us to reach that
pinnacle point of all our clalms-the
fourth city of the State of Minnesota.
Much has been accomplished to this
end since this body reorganized only q
few short years ago, and largely through
your persistent efforts. The determine
ton then made, that we must do some
thing towards making clear to the world
our many natural advantages; that we
must make an organized effort to get out
Of the Opaque puddle of obscurity" into
the clear stream of progress, has resulted
In all that We had any right to expect.
The rapid development of our stone, ce-
ment, lime and clay interests has at
tracted the attention of the whole North
west. The merchants of Minnesota and
Dakota are contributing freely to the
support of firmly rooted jobbing estab.
| lishments, by very liberal patronage
And the success of our manufacturing in
situations Is prompting many other man.
ufactories at other points to look towaads
our city with favor, as desirable point
at which to locate, and in some instances
| has led them to address us letters show
ing marked interest in our location and
our enterprise, and soliciting our aid to.
wards removal here. The fine bust.
ness blocks and many attractive resi-
dences which have been erected during
the past few years, plainly show that
faith in the future standing of our city, il
not limited to members of this board
but is generally accepted belief of all
classes of society. While this develop.
ment of an individual or semi-public ma.
ture has been going on, improvements oil
a strictly public character have not been
overlooked, as witnessed in the com.
mencement of much needed court
house, which in its architecture and So
lidity, will doubt not be matter oil
pride to the whole county In the years io
come, in the more complete pubic wa.
ter supply, and in the street railway sys.
tenn. / have read some where that 10
commemorate the victories of some ia.
nous general, or some great event in its
history, long years since, the city OF
Rome erected a beautiful column in one
of its principal public squares, to be sur.
mounted by a massive statute of the sue.
cessful leader; that months elapsed in
| the erection of the column, and that
i when completed, a day to be kept as q
holiday, was named for placing the stat.
ute thereon. In the presenceof the Ro-
man pontiff and the dignitaries of the
| church, and the great men of the en-
4 pire, and with appropriate ceremonies,
the monument was dedicated, the ropes
adjusted, and the statute drawn up to-
wards its appointed place In silence ii
went higher and higher, until within but
a few inches of the top, it ceased moving.
The full extent of the ropes had been
reached, and the workmen were greatly
alarmed. The crowd quickly realized
| the situation, but was powerleSs to sug-
gest a way out of the difficulty. Silence
| reigned in the assemblage, broken at last
by the voice of en- Adriatic sailor, calling
out "soet the ropes" The timely sugges-
ton was soon followed out, and the
stretched ropes brought the statute in
place, midst the loud huzzas of the great
crowd.
There rs much that is commendable in
all that have said in a general way OF
our marked progress since 1881.
We have reared column of commend
able hight, and there are many onlook-
ers who are watching us as we seek to
| put in place our statute of energy, enter
prise and progress.
We seem almost to have brought it to
its place. Can we not wet the ropes and
finish the column? Will you bear with
me while suggest how we may wet the
ropes, in order that our city may take its
deserved place in the line of the pro-
gressive cities of the North Star State.
/ think you will all agree with me in
the statement that what we need more
than anything else, is centrally located,
modern built, completely equipped and
well conducted hotel, of ample proper
tons. Not simply such a one as will
barely satisfy the present wants in that
direction, but anticipating the wants OF
the travelling public for year or two,
and to cost at least $50, 900, and so built
that it could easily be added to, as in
creased accommodations become neces-
sary. That the present year should see
such hotel erected, and, if possible, in
operation before its close, we all agree.
With your permission / will appoint a
special committee to give this matter i'm
i mediate attention, urging upon this
Board the necessity of speaking of the
great need of hotel upon every occa-
sion.
/ / regard as the next most important
enterprise which should be started this
season, for the good of this city, the pub
lication of a 1--we daily paper, of necessity
local in its character at first, but in time
i furnishing us by telegraph all the latest
news in brief, for evening reading. The
inability to disseminate information OF
local events in proper time, is want
4 often felt. To the statement which
have heard made that daily could not
be made to pay at present, | would state
that in the establishment of most enter
prises to meet the public wants, immedi-
q ate success is not usually expected. Faith
in the future, industry and pluck in such
an enterprise will be as likely to result
/ ne i'm